System and method for determining an optimal surgical trajectory

Abstract

A method and corresponding system for calculating an optimum surgical trajectory or path for displacing a surgical instrument through the interior of the body of a patient. Upon obtaining a volumetric scan of a patient, such as a CT scan, the surgeon can identify and assign weight values indicating a preference on whether an anatomical area be utilized in plotting an optimum instrument trajectory. Upon providing a starting and destination point for a surgical instrument, an optimum surgical trajectory can be determined in essentially real time and graphically presented to the surgeon by superimposing the proposed trajectory upon the patient's volumetric scan. Furthermore, the system and method is interactive, allowing the surgeon to deviate from the proposed optimum path if desired and choose another path. In response, the system will determine and present, in essentially real time, a new optimum trajectory based on the current location of the surgical instrument.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a system and method for determining an optimal trajectory or path for a surgical instrument being displaced within the body of a patient, as well as a system and method for presenting to a surgeon, in real time, an optimal surgical trajectory for navigating an instrument during a surgical procedure.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A primary goal of minimally invasive surgical procedures is to minimize the adverse effects of the procedure on the patient. This reduces post-surgical trauma and pain and minimizes recovery time. Some minimally invasive procedures require the surgeon to create one or more small incisions through which various surgical instruments can be passed. Other minimally invasive procedures forego the need to create small incisions in the exterior of the patient, instead relying on surgical instruments such as, for example, flexible endoscopes that can be passed into the interior of the patient's body by e...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, as the distance between the opening and target area of tissue increases, so does the complexity of the surgical procedure.

However, as the distance between the opening and target area of tissue increases, so does the complexity of the endoscopic procedure.

When presented with numerous potential surgical trajectories or paths between the opening and target area of tissue, the surgeon is then faced with the problem of determining and following the one trajectory that is deemed most optimal for the surgical procedure.

Consequently, a procedure performed by a seasoned, highly-experienced surgeon may result in the selection of the most optimal and safest surgical trajectory, while the same procedure performed by a younger, less-experienced surgeon may result in the selection of a less-than-optimal surgical trajectory that can increase the chance of complications during the procedure.

Disadvantages in current navigational methods continue to exist even when only highly-skilled surgeons are performing the procedures.

Variations among surgeons with respect to procedural methods and preferences can result in significant differences in the selection of the optimal surgical trajectory for a specific surgical procedure.

The selection of a sub-optimal trajectory by even the most skilled surgeon can also occur simply due to time constraints.

The typical surgical schedule can be quite hectic, providing the surgeon with limited time to spend on analyzing and planning an upcoming surgery.

Consequently, the surgeon may not have considered the selection of many different, or possibly any, alternative trajectories or paths.

Determining and selecting the optimal surgical trajectory becomes even more difficult during the surgical procedure itself.

Even if an initial optimal trajectory was selected during the beginning of the procedure, many surgeons end up having to revise their earlier decision and select a new trajectory as the procedure progresses due to factors such as anatomical variation amongst patients as well as virtually any minor or major surgical complication that results in the surgeon having to deviate from their initial plan.

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